Course:ETEC522/2010ST1/SeriousGameEnvironments/Vector2
Introduction
Videogames have taken the world by storm. A few research survey estimates that 97% of 12-17 year olds play videogames (Jackson, 2009). Videogames have been stereotyped as a violent form of entertainment (Are Videogames Too Violent?).
However, this stereotype is shattered by the fact that educational games are clearly abundant in the videogame market. Educational games help students gain a deeper understanding of the concepts they are learning (Barab et al., 2009). There are numerous educational games available for all age groups. Many websites offer free of charge educational games for children of all ages. Adults can sharpen their project management skills by playing an intriguing educational game (Sharkworld: A Project Mangement Game). Many companies offer educational games for a price. These companies include Vtech, Fisher Price, Nintendo and Microsoft.
The K-12 Market
The K-12 market is a vast market for educational games. The age range of this group is 3-18 years old. Therefore, in order to get a clear picture of the offerings available for this K-12 group it is important to split the large K-12 market into three main groups. The first group is the primary group aged 3-9 years old. This group is followed by the Intermediate group which will vary in age from 10-13. The final group is the Secondary group which ranges in age from 14-18 years old.
Primary Group (Age 3-9)
There are numerous free educational games available online for young children. These free educational games tend to focus on basic skills such as, counting, the alphabet and simple spelling games. Not all educational games for this group are free.
There are numerous companies that produce educational games for young children. These games still tend to focus on basic skill building, as many of the “pay to play” games revolve around early numeracy and literacy skills.
| Table 1. Primary Game Grid | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Pay to Play? | Description | Game Links | ||
| Baby-Place Website | No | Helps young children work on computer and math skills. | Play Games | ||
| Kinderweb | No | More complex and exciting games than Baby-Place. Includes matching, math, alphabet and animal games. | Play Games | ||
| Vtech | Yes | Vtech Motion: Game system that hooks to television. Can buy cartridges that aid children with reading, math, science and other subjects.
|
Motion: Nitro Notebook: | ||
| Fisher Price | Yes | Smart Cycle: Child rides a plastic bike that hooks up to the television. Contains math, alphabet and other games. | |||
Games for Intermediate Students (Age 10-13)
Many of the free games available online for intermediate children focus on general academic areas such as math and reading. However, the games are much more challenging than the educational games created for the primary group.
Nintendo and Microsoft have brought many educational games to the market for the intermediate age group. These “pay to play” games tend to be much more complex, have better graphics and present the educational material in an interesting manner (when compared to the free offerings).
| Table 2. Intermediate Game Grid | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Pay to Play? | Description | Game Links | ||
| Gametion | No | This free site contains around 100 free educational games. Players work on science, social studies, math and reading skills. Uses characters such as Spiderman to help maintain players’ attention. | General Gametion link: Play Games Spiderman Game: Play Game Baseball Math: Play Game | ||
| Nintendo | Yes | Has many educational titles including: Big Brain Academy Wii Degree - User complete logic, reason based, math, visual and memory based questions. Brain Age - Boasts that you will improve your mental sharpness by playing the game. Contains math, reading and memory based games. |
Big Brain Academy (Nintendo Wii):
| ||
| Microsoft | Yes | Viva Piñata- Allows the player to protect and manage a group of species called Piñatas. | |||
| Learning Upgrade | Yes | Contains many comprehensive numeracy and literacy games. | Play Games Typically you would have to pay to use the games on this site. However, if you click on free trial you get a 7 day free trial. | ||
Secondary Group (Age 14-17)
The free educational games available for secondary school students tend to be specialized in a general subject area. For example, there are websites that specialize in chemistry, history, mathematics and other subjects. Other free game sites help students study for tests such as the SAT’s.
Microsoft produces educational games for the computer and console (Xbox 360) markets. Their games are innovative entries into the secondary market.
| Table 3. Secondary Game Grid | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Pay to Play? | Description | Game Links | ||
| RSC Games | No | Educational games based on chemistry. In Masterminding Molecules the player tries to find a cure for a disease. | General Link: Play Game Masterminding Molecules: Play Game | ||
| Quiz Hub | No | Site provides simple games that resemble online tests. | SAT Example: Play Game | ||
| Microsoft | Yes | Civil War: Nation Divided allows players to join Confederation or Union army and fight in historical wars such as Gettysburg. Age of Empires and Rise of Nations are strategy games where the player is in full control of their own nation. Their decisions will either weaken or strengthen their nations. | Age of Empires: | ||
| Positech Games | Yes | Democracy allows a player to run his/her own government. | |||
| Learning Upgrade | Yes | Comprehensive numeracy and literacy site. | Play Game Try out the Algebra game. You will need to activate the free trial to play the game. | ||
Post-Secondary and Adults Group (Age 18+)
Post-Secondary: Many of the educational games used with the Secondary group can also be used with the post-secondary group. For example, a history professor can use Microsoft’s Civil War game to teach students about key battles.
Adults: Games for adults typically involve training for a future career or jobs. For example, flight simulators can help train future pilots.
| Table 4. Post-Secondary and Adult Game Grid | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | Pay to Play? | Description | Game Links | ||
| Flight Simulator Company (FSC) | Yes | Simulates the flight of an actual airplane. There are different flight simulators for different types of planes. | |||
| Ranj Team | Yes | The award winning Shark World project management game allows the user to mange a virtual shark aquarium. | Shark World Site: Play Trailer | ||
Vector Report Card
Discussion Question
Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of free and “pay to play” educational games.
Back to Serious Game Environments
References
Age of Empires II Gameplay, (n.d.). Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0EwWp-gn6I
Are Video Games Too Violent, (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2010 from http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/are-video-games-too-violent-566599.html
Barab, S.A., Scott, B., Siyahhan, S., Goldstone, R., Ingram-Goble, A., Zuiker, S.J., Warren. (2009). Transformational play as a curricular scaffold: Using videogames to support science education. Journal of Science and Technology. 18(4), 305-320.
Brain Age E3 Movie, (n.d.). Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbJMTtCV0Ds
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree, (n.d.). Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4KjRfuJLhU
Children’s Games, (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2010 from http://www.baby-place.com/games.php
Democracy 2 (PC) Game Review, (n.d.). Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq3kNK4FnGM
Fisher Price Smart Cycle, (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=balEIQNZQqQ
Flight Simulator Training Virtual Aviation, (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytp_QuGXE8E
Gametion Play Safe, (n.d.). Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.gametion.com/educationalgames.htm
Jackson, J. (2009). Game based teaching: What teachers can learn from videogames. Teaching Education. 20(3), 291-304.
Kinderweb Educational Children’s Games, (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2010 from http://www.kinderwebgames.com/
Learning Upgrade, (n.d.). Retrieved July 4, 2010 from http://www.learningupgrade.com/html/index.htm
Quiz Hub, (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2010 from http://quizhub.com/quiz/f-vocabulary.cfm
RSC Advancing the Chemical Sciences, (n.d.). Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.rsc.org/Education/SchoolStudents/Games.asp
Shark World: A Project Management Game, (n.d.). Retrieved June 18, 2010 from http://www.sharkworldgame.com/play_trailer.php
Viva Piñata: How to grow a garden, (n.d.), Retrieved June 27, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q0hZbRWNR4
VTech Nitro Notebook, (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp4QHBA3tk0
VTech VSmile, (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rifPJX3lyhI